Remedial Education Program (REP) Grades School Year

Transcription

1 Remedial Education Program (REP) Grades School Year Contact Information: Albert Pat Blenke, Program Manager Leadership and Special Programs (404) Pam Smith, Director of Curriculum and Instruction (404) April 16, 2015 Page 1 of 14

2 Remedial Education Program (REP) Table of Contents I. Purpose.. 3 II. Instructional Staff. 4 A. Program Coordinator B. REP Teachers III. Eligibility A. Eligible Students B. School Population Eligibility IV. Scheduling Models A. REP Reduced Class Size (High School) B. Augmented Class Model C. Parallel Block Scheduling D. Other School-Designed Model E. Summer Remediation (Middle School) V. Class Size.. 7 VI. Evaluation. 7-8 A. Student Assessment APPENDIX 1 State Board Rule APPENDIX 2 Official Code of Georgia APPENDIX 3 Frequently Asked Questions APPENDIX 4 Application: School Design Model Note: This Guidance document was updated to include current assessment terminology. April 16, 2015 Page 2 of 14

3 I. Purpose The Remedial Education Program (REP) is an instructional program designed for students in grades 6-12 who have identified deficiencies in reading, writing, or math. This program provides individualized basic skills instruction as mandated by Georgia Law in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. The REP Program is a part of the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework for providing support to students. The REP Program provides a structure for additional instruction to ensure students meet grade level expectations at the middle and high school level. April 16, 2015 Page 3 of 14

4 II. REP Instructional Staff A. Program Coordinator If a system chooses to have a Program Coordinator he/she will: 1. accept responsibility for program planning; 2. include principals, teachers, and parents in program development; 3. ensure that REP staff needs are included in system staff development plans; 4. assist principals in assessing needs of teachers and of students; 5. offer leadership in evaluating effectiveness of program; 6. report effectiveness results to parents, REP staff, principals, and the superintendent; and 7. forward required reports to the as needed. B. REP Teachers III. Eligibility All REP teachers must meet the appropriate certification requirements as defined by the Professional Standards Commission and be fully qualified to teach reading, writing, or mathematics. Certification requirements are as follows: a. Grades six - twelve b. Elementary, one eight c. Middle Grades, four eight d. Secondary, seven - twelve Reading Specialist (K - twelve) Special Education (K - twelve) A. Eligible Students (O.C.G.A ) 1. Students in grades 6-12 may be eligible for services if they meet two or more of the following criteria: a. The student has been through the formal student support team process as specified in Rule Student Support Team and has documented evidence to support the placement in remedial education. b. The student has failed either a language arts or a mathematics course in grades c. The student is receiving services under Part A, of Chapter 1 of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of l965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of April 16, 2015 Page 4 of 14

5 d. The student has been recommended by the teacher who has documented any of the following student information: i. Low performance in reading. ii. Low performance in mathematics. iii. Inability to verbally express ideas or to write or dictate a meaningful sentence. e. Current standardized test information in the student file indicates the student has a score at or below the 25th percentile in reading, writing, or mathematics. i. For participation in middle school remediation programs, the most recent Georgia Milestones scores indicate the student has a score in the Does Not Meet category in reading, or English/language arts, or mathematics. ii. For participation in high school remediation programs, the most recent state assessment scores indicate the student has a score in the Does Not Meet or failed category in reading, or English/Language arts, or mathematics. 2. Students in grades six through 12 who are receiving services under the special education program as authorized by Code Section and whose Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) specify that they meet the eligibility requirements specified in subsection 1 and that their special education program is not designed to address their respective reading, mathematics, or writing deficiencies. B. School Population Eligibility No more than 25 percent of the school s full-time equivalent population in eligible grades shall be eligible for the remedial education program except in systems which have more than 50 percent of its student population receiving free and reduced-price lunches. Schools with more than 50 percent of their students receiving free or reduced-price lunches may provide remedial education services for a higher percent of students up to 35 percent of the school s full-time equivalent population in grades IV. Scheduling Models A. REP Reduced Class Size Students receive English or mathematics instruction from a state-certified teacher designated as a REP teacher. High school students participating in Remedial Education Program classes may earn core credit in English or mathematics if: a. the class size is reduced to 18 without a paraprofessional and 24 with a paraprofessional; and b. the course content follows the 9-12 state-adopted standards/curriculum. April 16, 2015 Page 5 of 14

6 B. Augmented Class Model An additional state certified teacher, referred to as a REP augmented teacher, will work in the same classroom with the regular classroom teacher and provide instruction for minutes per segment a day to no more than 15 REP students. Student instruction under this model cannot exceed two instructional segments per day per student. Core credit may be earned at the high school level for this model if the course content follows the 9-12 state-adopted standards/curriculum. C. Parallel Block Scheduling In this model, students are provided daily instruction in two-hour (minimum) blocks. These blocks of instruction include the following components: Students will be heterogeneously grouped. Students are in small groups (15 or fewer) in the extension room or homeroom during one-hour of the two-hour block. Students receive direct instruction from the state-certified teacher on their instructional level for a minimum of minutes in reading/writing or mathematics. D. Other School-Design Models Schools may submit to the (GaDOE) a system or school designed model. Use of this model requires a written description of how REP students will be provided services above and beyond the regular classroom setting. Please complete the application in Appendix 4 of this document. Scan and return the application via to Pat Blenke at ablenke@doe.k12.ga.us or Pam Smith pamsmith@doe.k12.ga.us. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the model provides: An appropriate and effective program in remediating student deficiencies. A plan for the utilization of data in determining program effectiveness. Remedial services through a state-certified teacher. (A paraprofessional may be added to reduce the class size and serve as an assistant to the teacher.) The use of REP funds shall provide supplemental instruction above and beyond those services provided by the state for regular classroom instruction. Compliance with the remedial maximum class size rule. E. Summer Remediation (Middle School) If funds are appropriated through the General Assembly for such purpose, remediation funds may be used for students in eighth grade who scored at the performance level 1 or does not meet category on the gateway Georgia Milestones assessment. April 16, 2015 Page 6 of 14

7 During the school year, middle schools may provide remedial services in suggested models such as the pull-out, reduced class size, extension class, or during the connections block. V. Class Size (Middle and High School) Maximum Class Size (Appendix A of Class Size Rule ) Maximum System Average Class Size Maximum Individual Class Size With paraprofessional No paraprofessional Funding Size: 15 Maximum number of REP funded segments for a 6-12 traditional scheduled school is 2. Block scheduled schools (A/B or 4x4) no more than 3 segments. VI. Evaluation A. Student Assessment Each year the (GaDOE) shall utilize data submitted by local school systems during the regular student records collection process to conduct and evaluation of REP. By June of each year, the local school systems shall report the achievement results to GADOE of all students who received instructional services through the REP in the content area(s) in which they were served. At a minimum, the evaluation shall include the following components: 1. For students in grades six through eight, a report of the number and percentage of students who passed the grade-level appropriate Georgia Milestones in reading, writing, or mathematics. 2. For students in grades nine and ten, a report of the number and percentage of students who passed a system-made test in reading, writing, or mathematics where test items came from the On-Line Assessment System at grade eight and above in the appropriate subject area(s) or any grade appropriate Georgia Milestones assessment. Systems may also choose to use standard system level assessments of achievement. April 16, 2015 Page 7 of 14

8 APPENDIX 1 April 16, 2015 Page 8 of 14

9 April 16, 2015 Page 9 of 14

10 APPENDIX Remedial education program. (a) All children and youth who are eligible for a general and career education program under Code Section and who are also eligible under the criteria specified in this Code section shall be provided, in accordance with policies adopted by the State Board of Education, the remedial education program services needed to address their respective reading, mathematics, or writing deficiencies. The following students shall be eligible for remedial education services: (1) Students in grades six through 12 may be eligible for services if they meet two or more of the following criteria: (A) The student has been through the formal student support team process and has documented evidence to support the placement in remedial education; (B) The student has been retained in the grade; (C) The student is receiving services under Part A of Chapter 1 of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law ); (D) The student has been recommended by the teacher who has documented any of the following student information: (i) Low performance in the reading series system; (ii) Low performance in the mathematics series; or (iii) The student is unable to verbally express ideas and cannot write or dictate a meaningful sentence; or (E) Current test information in the student file indicates the student has a score at or below the twenty-fifth percentile; and (2) Students in grades six through 12 who are receiving services under the special education program as authorized by Code Section and whose Individualized Education Programs (IEP's) specify that they meet the eligibility requirements specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection and that their special education program is not designed to address their respective reading, mathematics, or writing deficiencies. No more than 25 percent of the full-time equivalent population in eligible grades as specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be eligible for the remedial program; provided, however, that the State Board of Education may develop regulations whereby a higher percentage may be eligible if the percentage of students receiving free and reduced price lunches exceeds 50 percent. (b) Each local unit of administration shall submit to the State Board of Education by July 1 of each year the average achievement scores by subject area and grade level of all students who were receiving instructional services under the provisions of this Code section, except those April 16, 2015 Page 10 of 14

11 students whose Individualized Education Programs under the special education program state they shall not be administered such achievement tests. If appropriate evaluation data are not received from a local school system by the state board by July 1 of each year, after a hearing has been held for the system, the subsequent allocation of funds under this Code section for the next fiscal year shall be withheld in accordance with the procedure specified in Code Section The state board shall monitor each local school system's remedial education program at least once each year. The state board shall annually request sufficient state funds to pay a pro rata share of the costs associated with the staff of the federal compensatory education program for disadvantaged children when such staff is used to evaluate the remedial education program under this Code section in conjunction with the evaluation of the federal compensatory education program for disadvantaged children in the same local school system. (Code 1981, , enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 1657, 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1169, 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 612, 6; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1630, 1.1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, 16; Ga. L. 2001, p. 148, 2; Ga. L. 2006, p. 743, 1/SB 515.) April 16, 2015 Page 11 of 14

12 APPENDIX 3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q1: Are schools required to provide a Remedial Education Program (REP)? A: Yes, schools are required by Georgia Law and state board rule to provide an REP program. See Appendix 1 and 2 of this document for more information. Q2: In what area must instruction be provided? A: Reading, writing, and mathematics support must be provided. Q3: What teacher certification requirements must REP teacher meet? A: REP teachers must meet the appropriate certification requirements as defined by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) and be fully qualified to teach reading, writing or mathematics. Q4: What are the eligibility criteria for students? A: Refer to state code (O.C.G.A ) and section III Eligibility of this document. Q5: Can Mathematics Support classes be counted for REP? A: Yes, the Mathematics Support classes can be counted for REP if the class meets the REP criteria. Q6: Can students receiving special education services participate in REP? A: Yes, if the individual students IEP specifies that they meet the eligibility requirements and if their special education program is not designed to address their respective reading, math, or writing deficiencies. Q7: How many students from my school can I serve in REP? A: No more than 25 percent of the school s full-time equivalent population in eligible grades shall be eligible for the remedial education program except in systems which have more than 50 percent of its student population receiving free and reduced-price lunches. Schools with more than 50 percent of their students receiving free or reduced-price lunches may provide remedial education services for a higher percent of students up to 35 percent of the school s full-time equivalent population in grades Q8: How many students can I put in an REP class? A: The class size is 24 with a paraprofessional and 18 without a paraprofessional. April 16, 2015 Page 12 of 14

13 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (continued) Q9: How is my schools REP program evaluated by the GaDOE? What type of student assessments can be used? A: Each year the (GaDOE) shall utilize data submitted by local school systems during the regular student records collection process to conduct and evaluation of REP. By June of each year, the local school systems shall report the achievement results to GADOE of all students who received instructional services through the REP in the content area(s) in which they were served. At a minimum, the evaluation shall include the following components: 1. For students in grades six through eight, a report of the number and percentage of students who passed the grade-level appropriate Georgia Milestones in reading, writing, or mathematics. 2. For students in grades nine and ten, a report of the number and percentage of students who passed a system-made test in reading, writing, or mathematics where test items came from the On-Line Assessment System at grade eight and above in the appropriate subject area(s) or any grade appropriate End- of-course Test. Systems may also choose to use standard system level assessments of achievement. 3. For students in grades eleven and twelve, a report of the percentage of REP students passing the Georgia Milestones. April 16, 2015 Page 13 of 14

14 APPENDIX 4 Remedial Education Program (REP) Other School Design Model (Use this application for describing school-designed models that are different from the ones approved and defined in guidance.) School Year: School: System: School Code: System Code: REP Contact Information Contact: Phone: Send the completed application via to: Albert Patrick Pat Blenke at ablenke@doe.k12.ga.us Reminder: Your School-Designed Model must provide for the following: An appropriate and effective program in remediating student deficiencies. Remedial services through a state-certified teacher. (A paraprofessional may be added to reduce the class size and serve as an assistant to the teacher.) A plan for the utilization of data in determining program effectiveness. The use of REP funds shall provide supplemental instruction above and beyond those services provided by the state for regular classroom instruction. Compliance with the remedial education maximum class size rule. 1. Describe your school-designed model. (Attach a separate document to this template describing the school-designed model.) 2. How will REP students be provided services beyond the regular classroom setting? 3. How will data be used to determine and report program effectiveness? April 16, 2015 Page 14 of 14